Wharton Fintech Podcast

Nate Gee hosts Eric Satz, Founder and CEO of Alto, a self-directed IRA custodian that facilitates individuals’ tax-advantaged investments in alternative asset classes. With the goal of “alternatives for all,” Alto aims to be the world’s premier alternative assets marketplace. In this episode, they discuss: - Eric’s career journey and how Alto came about - Why alternative investments as a means of diversification, and why now - Alto’s growth in a space of increasing competition - Alto’s capabilities with crypto - Expanding access to alternatives - Eric’s advice and insights from years as a founder, operator, and investor - And much more! About Alto As a self-directed IRA custodian, Alto launched its original Alto IRA platform in 2018 to simplify the process for individuals to diversify their retirement investments beyond stocks and bonds into a range of assets from private equity and credit to real estate, art, and wine. Supplementary to its original platform, Alto launched its CryptoIRA in 2020 to facilita

Zoey Tang hosts Gary Hoberman, Founder and CEO at Unqork. Unqork provides a codeless enterprise application platform designed for customers in financial services, insurance, health care, government, and others. Throughout our conversation, we explored Gary's career journey and the motivation behind initiating Unqork. Our conversation delved into how Unqork empowers clients through its no-code application platform, expediting development, amplifying customization, and mitigating technical debt. We concluded by examining Gary's insights into the future evolution of the financial services technology landscape. About Gary Hoberman Gary Hoberman is the CEO & Founder of Unqork. Before founding Unqork, Gary was the former CIO of MetLife and spent more than twenty years working in financial services.

Joshua Benadiva hosts Itzik Cohen, Co-Founder and CEO of PayZen, a patient financing platform for healthcare. PayZen helps hospitals, health systems, and physicians groups of all sizes to offer affordable payment plans to their patients, while funding providers up-front for all billings regardless of a patient’s credit score. PayZen was founded in 2021 by Itzik and his co-founders to fight the healthcare affordability crisis. In this episode you will hear about: - Itzik’s journey from being a serial entrepreneur and a tech veteran in lending, healthcare lending, and debt settlement to founding PayZen - The intersection of healthcare and fintech, and the challenges and opportunities in this space - PayZen’s unique approach to payments in the healthcare space, and how it leverages data and AI to create individualized patient payment plans that families can afford - The vision and mission of PayZen, and how it aims to make healthcare accessible and affordable for everyone About PayZen: PayZen is a global techn

Kailee Costello hosts Matt Streisfeld, General Partner at Oak HC/FT. Oak is a venture and growth equity firm investing in companies driving transformation in healthcare and fintech. Oak was one of the earliest venture investors in fintech, and now has over $5B in assets under management. In this episode you will hear about: - The M&A environment for fintechs - Opportunities in AI and Machine Learning, and how Matt thinks about identifying “winners” in what is increasingly becoming a crowded space - The outlook for digital assets - Matt’s personal philosophy on FinTech investing - And much more! About Oak HC/FT Oak HC/FT is a venture and growth equity firm investing in companies driving transformation in healthcare and fintech. Oak HC/FT partners with leading entrepreneurs at every stage, from seed to growth, to build businesses that make a measurable, lasting impact on these industries. Founded in 2014, the firm has $5.3 billion in assets under management. The partners at the firm have had 46 realization

"Every time we scale, I rethink the problem and how we are solving it…” Listen in as Josh Benadiva hosts Ariel Cohen, CEO and Co-Founder of Navan. This episode is a riveting exploration of Ariel's journey in tackling evolving challenges and driving continuous product innovation as his business scales. Ariel shares his unique approach to product development and organizational alignment. He discusses how he and his co-founder initially reimagined enterprise travel management software with a focus driving win-wins for companies and their employees. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Navan, Ariel is focused on the company’s growth. This is Ariel’s second company he founded with Co-founder and CTO Ilan Twig –– the most recent being StreamOnce, a business multimedia integration platform which was acquired by Jive Software. Prior to StreamOnce, Ariel led Product Management in a senior leadership role at Hewlett-Packard. Ariel earned an EMBA from Northwestern University –– Kellogg School of Management. Navan (formerl

Kailee Costello hosts Harsh Sinha and Steve Naudé from Wise. Harsh is the Chief Technology Officer, and Steve is Head of Wise Platform. Wise has built a leading cross-border payments network and processes £9B in cross-border payments every month on behalf of over 16 million customers. Wise’s IPO on the London Stock Exchange took place in 2021. In this episode you will hear about: - Wise’s journey from money transfer service to leading cross-border payments network - How Wise have put an API around their cross-border payment infrastructure so that they can offer it to banks and non-banks via Wise Platform - How Wise is able to achieve such low transaction costs - Whether Wise will be able to push prices lower in the future - The friction that still exists in cross-border payments - The role that crypto solutions will play in the future. - How Wise deploys cross-functional teams that operate as a small startup within Wise and are fully equipped as a vertical unit to solve the problem for the customer - Challe

Nihar Bobba hosts Khalid Meniri, Co-Founder and CEO of Selfbook, a fintech startup bringing modern payments innovation to the world of hospitality. Prior to Selfbook, Khalid built and ran a digital agency, Six, where he and his team combined data architecture, e-commerce infrastructure and digital design expertise to serve clients such as Net-a-Porter, Unilever and Hearst. Today, Selfbook partners with hospitality groups such as Dorchester Collection, Oetker Collection and Auberge Resorts Collection, and includes investors such as Amex Ventures, Tiger Global, Starwood’s Barry Sternlicht and Better Tomorrow Ventures. In this episode, you will hear about: - Khalid's journey to America - Why frictionless payments is so important for hospitality - What's next for Selfbook - What Khalid's excited about in Fintech

Joshua Benadiva hosts Chen Amit, the founder and CEO of Tipalti. We deep-dive into Chen's journey, from finding initial success in tech and product management, to his role today as the leader of a billion-dollar company. Chen offers fascinating insights on how to craft the initial solution for significant enterprise problems, and how being an outsider can bring a fresh, innovative perspective. He also speaks candidly about his learnings from starting Tipalti and the critical elements of structuring an early-stage company and hiring the right team. Chen is a veteran high tech executive and repeat entrepreneur. Prior to Tipalti, Chen was CEO of Atrica, a Carrier Ethernet company that Nokia-Siemens acquired. Before Atrica, Chen was co-founder and CEO of Verix, a provider of business intelligence software. At ECI Telecom, Chen founded their ADSL business unit and led it from inception to $100 million in annual sales. He earned a BSc from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology and an MBA from INSEAD.

Kailee Costello hosts Annie Delgado, the Chief Risk Officer of Upstart. Upstart is a leading AI lending marketplace, partnering with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit In this episode you will hear about: - How Upstart’s use of ML has evolved from a binary decision model to what is now a fully-automated loan process for the majority of their borrowers - Why Upstart decided not to become a chartered bank - How Upstart works to prevent bias in ML algorithms - Competitive advantage in ML underwriting - Annie’s role as Chief Risk Officer - How lending processes and credit scores will evolve into the future - And much more! About Annie Delgado Annie is the Chief Risk Officer at Upstart. As part of her role, she has built a data-driven compliance program at Upstart, navigating the regulatory environment associated with the use of AI-powered credit modeling techniques. About Upstart Upstart is a leading artificial intelligence (AI) lending marketplace designed to improve access to af

Nate Gee hosts Boris Alergant, Ripple’s Head of DeFi. Ripple has operated in the crypto space for over a decade and offers a range of blockchain-based solutions for businesses. In this episode we cover: - Ripple’s original solution addressing cross-border payments inefficiencies - The XRP Ledger on which Ripple builds its products, and how it differs from other blockchains - How Boris views and defines decentralized finance and his role leading DeFi at Ripple - The development of automated market maker functionality on the XRP Ledger - Central bank digital currencies and other recent industry trends - Pursuing an MBA to transition into fintech/crypto - And much more! About Boris Alergant Boris joined Ripple full-time in 2019 and is now the company’s Head of DeFi. Before joining Ripple, Boris earned an MBA and MA at the Wharton School and Lauder Institute. Prior to business school, Boris spent the first seven years of his career in investment banking and sales and trading at JP Morgan and MUFG. About Rip

Josh Benadiva converses with David Mercer, CEO of LMAX Group, about the evolution of fintech, and his journey in leading a foreign and crypto exchange. A seasoned leader in the derivatives industry, Mercer shares his insights on the essence of continuous product improvement, agility in business structures, and the innovative approaches in Bitcoin and crypto exchanges. Discover how LMAX Group, Europe's leading Multilateral Trading Facility for FX and crypto, is driving transformation in the industry. Mercer provides a sneak peek into the future of crypto beyond the crypto winter and the role LMAX Group will play in this landscape. David Mercer is the chief executive of LMAX Group. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the derivatives industry and an extensive expertise in the leveraged FX business. Prior to joining LMAX Exchange, he held senior executive roles at IFX Markets and Saxo Bank (Synthesis Bank) in London, Geneva and Sydney. Mercer started his career at CSFP and Credit Suisse First Boston focusi

Tarang Gupta hosts Samara Cohen, the Chief Investment Officer of ETFs and Index Investments at BlackRock. BlackRock is a global asset manager and technology provider and one of the world’s leading providers of investment, advisory and risk management solutions. In this episode you will hear about: - What Samara’s role as the CIO entails - How ETFs have evolved from their early days - Building high performance teams - Different types of investors that invest in BlackRock’s ETFs - Increasing participation of self-directed investors in public markets - Samara’s outlook on managing personal and professional commitments - And much more! About Samara Cohen Samara Cohen, Senior Managing Director, is the Chief Investment Officer of the ETF and Index Investments (EII) business for BlackRock and a member of the firm's Global Executive Committee. As the first ever CIO for EII, Samara manages the teams responsible for delivering the market quality and investment integrity of BlackRock’s 2,700+ index funds and ETFs. Sh

In a collaboration with GGV Capital's "Evolving for the Next Billion" podcast, Joshua Benadiva hosts a fascinating conversation with Hans Tung, widely recognized as one of the best venture investors in the world. Hans is the managing partner of GGV Capital, and has been named to the Forbes Midas List of the world's top venture capital investors for 11 consecutive years. Throughout our conversation, we explore the unique decision-making strategies that have fueled Hans' successful investments. We delve into his distinct perspective on human and technological transformation and discuss how he uses these as data points in his broader investment strategy. Hans Tung is a Managing Partner at GGV Capital, focusing on early-stage investments across the global digital economy ecosystem. He is consistently recognized among the top venture capital investors in the world, having been named to the Forbes Midas list 11 consecutive years from 2013-2023, and has been in the top 10 for the last 5 years. He has also been rec

Russell Matambo hosts Shivani Siroya, Founder and CEO of Tala, a global technology company expanding access to credit and financial services in underserved markets. They discuss how Shivani’s built Tala on the basis of her microlending activity from her own savings, the importance of trust when lending in Emerging Markets, the socioeconomic impact of credit in Emerging Markets, and much more! About Shivani: Shivani is the Founder and CEO of Tala, a global technology company expanding access to credit and financial services in underserved markets. Nearly 8 million people across Kenya, the Philippines, Mexico, and India have used Tala products to start and expand small businesses, manage day-to-day needs, and pursue their financial goals with confidence. Tala has been named to the Fortune Impact 20 list, CNBC’s Disruptor 50 four years in a row, and Forbes’ Fintech 50 list for seven years running. Shivani has been invited to speak on Financial Inclusion at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Prior to founding

Tarang Gupta hosts Mani Mahadevan, the Founder & CEO of Valur, a fintech startup helping democratize access to the tax optimization and asset protection tools of billionaires. In this episode you will hear about: - Increasing complications in the US tax code - Making tax mitigation strategies accessible through tech - Starting a company during the pandemic - Taking the plunge from corporate roles to entrepreneurship And much more! About Mani Mahadevan Mani is the Founder and CEO at Valur. Prior to founding Valur, Mani was Chief of Staff for Apple Card at Marcus by Goldman Sachs and before that he held product and operation roles at the Remote Year and Medallia. Mani started his career as a Business Analyst at McKinsey and holds a Bachelors from the University of Michigan. About Valur Founded in 2020, Valur takes the tax optimization and asset protection tools of the ultra-wealthy and makes them accessible to everyone. Valur democratizes the tax planning tools necessary to grow wealth more efficiently, thr

In this episode, our host, Josh Benadiva, sits down with Tomer Barel, Chief Operating Officer of Melio. They discuss Tomer's takeaways in his early career from start-ups to PayPal, why he views simplicity and ease-of-use as the core of Melio's product, and the future of B2B payments. Tomer shares his insights on Melio's strategic partnerships, the state of B2B payments, and advice for future operators in the fintech space. Tomer Barel is the Chief Operating Officer of Melio. Before joining Melio, Tomer served as Vice President and COO of Novi, Meta’s payments unit and digital wallet. Tomer also spent nine years at PayPal. As PayPal’s global Chief Enterprise Services Officer and Chief Risk Officer, he was part of the executive team reporting to the CEO and led financial risk management and compliance as well as global operations including customer service and back-office functions. Barel also served on Melio’s advisory board since the company’s founding in 2018. Melio's mission is to keep small business in

Tarang Gupta hosts Tanner Hackett, the Founder and CEO of Counterpart, an insurtech startup using AI to offer management and professional liability insurance products and services for small businesses. In this episode you will hear about: - How insuring SMEs can be tricky - Why Tanner chose to focus on specialty insurance - What makes Counterpart's offerings standout - Counterpart’s recent $30M Series B raise - The disruption brought about by insurtech And much more! About Tanner Hackett Tanner is the Founder and CEO of Counterpart. Before starting Counterpart, he co-founded two successful ventures including the Malaysian arm of Lazada, which quickly became the largest e-commerce company in Southeast Asia and Button, which has become the world’s largest mobile-first affiliate platform, partnering with global brands like Amazon, Walmart, Booking.com, and Uber. About Counterpart Founded in 2019, Counterpart is a Series B insurtech firm offering small business management and professional liability insurance b

Tarang Gupta hosts Junaid Wahedna, the Founder and CEO of Wahed, which is a values driven digital investment platform structured in accordance with established Islamic principles and standards. In this episode you will hear about: - What is riba and its role in halal investing - Structuring ETFs that are complaint with Islamic principles - Launch of Wahed’s physical bank branch and gold-backed debit card - Junaid’s decision to expand globally early-on And much more! About Junaid Wahedna Junaid, a native of India, was educated in Dubai during his formative years. He holds a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Columbia University along with several certifications in accounting and finance including a CMA, CAIA and CDIF, London, United Kingdom. Prior to founding Wahed, Junaid spent several years working on Wall Street. About Wahed Founded in 2017, Wahed is an ethical and values driven digital investment platform that provides access to diversified portfolios to resi

Tarang Gupta hosts Giuseppe Stuto, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at 186 Ventures. 186 Ventures is a pre-seed & seed stage VC firm investing across fintech, consumer, enterprise, and disruptive tech. In this episode you will hear about: - 186’s investment philosophy and portfolio selection process - Opportunities unlocked by Web3 disruption - Strategically deploying capital in an uncertain market - Anticipated evolution of DApps and Layer 1 chains And much more! About Giuseppe Stuto Prior to co-founding 186 Ventures, Giuseppe was the Co-Founder and CEO of Fam, a group video software company that was acquired by Draftkings. He then served in product & strategy roles at DraftKings leading up to their IPO and was also the COO for Pison Technology. Giuseppe holds a B.S.B.A. from the Boston University Questrom School of Business. About 186 Ventures Founded in 2019, 186 Ventures are early stage technology investors focused on agile teams working on disruptive problems. 186 Ventures is based in Boston and its in

Tarang Gupta hosts Michele Alt, Co-Founder & Partner, and Jonah Crane, Partner at Klaros Group. Klaros is an advisory and investment firm at the intersection of innovation, financial services, and regulation. In this episode you will hear about: - Sneak peak into the policy making process - Advising fintechs dealing with regulatory uncertainty - Potential M&A opportunities arising from economic downturn - What led to the failure of SVB and its impact on banking and fintech - Their opinion on the resilience of the US economy And much more! About Michele Alt Michele is a Co-Founder and Partner at the Klaros Group and she advises fintech clients on their banking and regulatory strategies by drawing on her prior experience at the Promontory Financial Group and as a senior legal official at the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. About Jonah Crane Jonah is a Partner at the Klaros Group and he advises on business and product strategy, regulatory and compliance risk, and regulatory engagement. He has